Casing construction



Jan. 13, 1931. H, L, JQRGEN-SEN 1,789,102

GAS ING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 3, 1928 is #or/zeya.

Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED v"STA TES PATENT OFFICE IIANs--I.. JQRGENSEN, oF oHIoAGo, ILLINOIS cAsING CONSTRUCTION Application jiedranuary 3, 1928. seriai No. 244,117.

This invention relates to casingconstruotionsuchas for radiators, showcases or the like, and has kfor ari-object-to provide an -improved `method of securing panels ofslieet Another: obj ect= material to -a metall fra-me. Y is-to providean improved constructionin which the ordinaryA fastening means, such asscrews, rivets, bolts, etc., are totally hiddenifrom theloutside view of the casing. A furtherA obj ectf of vthis` invention is-to provide means employedin corners lof the casing for: securingthe fra-me members: together and also for securing-thepanels of'sheet material.y to `the frame: members. certain features :1 and elements: of! construction, as herein shownanddescribed, andi as .indicated by; the fclaims- In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fra view of af cornerofavradiator casingf'em'- bodyinga-the present invention.

E' gure 2 yis. an enlarged detail lperspective f view. of an interiorv corner of the casing showing` a .corner member for fastening the frame membersitogether and securing the panels. to the frame; the--upperportionof' the viewbeingiillustrativeofi af method of securingseveral panels vin a- .frameV in either horizontal ,or vertical relation..

Figure 3 vis a transverse sectionJ through a frame member-indicating the manner by'v whichiny improved vfasteners secure panels to the. frame member.-

Figure 4 is a perspective view,l off-a; retaining clamp platewhich serves as the nut for the fasteningl members.l

i'gure.- 5 is a section taken as indicated at line l-5 on Figure. 2. Y

Figureis a perspective view ofl a cap member which may beV used; as afootvor as atop for theend of'the uprightframe,

member.

Figure 7 is af perspective of an interiorv cornei` of the'casing illustrating a modified form of; cornerY member -for securing thefram members together and the Apanels to the fframe.-

llllguref` 8;.1s. a'kv transversesectional view through@ frame; member, showing. aclamp Y ina.meril-loerY of .modified formi-,-

It consists in gmentary.- perspective In thedrawings, they present invention is shownl forI purposes` of' illustration, in connection with a casingof the type adapted fonenclosingsteam or hots water radiators of various forms. The casing includes: a

frame? comprising upright'eoorner members,

longitudinal center lines, forming angle members withlegs, 14,*at' an angle substantiallyj equal totlienangleY at which-the adjacent panelsare to-= bel mountedI relative 'toeaclife other. Eachof thev legs, 14, is fol-dedy upon itself, (bringing the part, 15,

of tlieflegljback' oppositethe-inner sideofi the. outer part in: spaced`` relation thereto, s'

with the extreme edge -poition` curved in# wardlyr. ina .stiieningrib?, 16, extending parallel lto and offset from a plane bisecting 'i 'the angle between saidlegs` 14. Y

As illustrated in Figiifre 3, the panels, 13,' are positioned 'against th'einner leg portions, 15, of the lframe members and clamped' in' place by; fastening devices,l each f consisting i of'aV retaining clamp plate, 17, and ay yclamping member,` 18,. secured to the retaining'v cla-mp plate -byfafscrewff, 19,; extending' be'- tween the stitfening ribs,y 16. This retain-rv ing clamp plate consists ofa middle' portion, 20,'and two opposite@1 inclinedf legs,21', dis-l posed 'at-an iangle `correspon'dii'ig to lthe angle formed between ythe legs, 14, ofl said frame member, so that the retaining clampl plate Y may-be positioned 'in the frame member with itslegs, 21, inserted between-the'leg portions, 14iand`15of 'safidffiamexandwith the middle Y portion positioned aperpeiidicular to the plane bisectingl the angleftoreinforce and stili'en the v legs of=these frame members and als'oserve vas'the nut for the screw, 19; A pair ofi outwardly" project-ingv lugs, 22, are-i formedif at 'Lthe' ends# lof the middle portion, 20, and are adapted to fit snugly into the corner of the frame member against the inner surfaces of the legs, 14. These lugs serve to position the retaining clamp plate in the frame member for engagement by the' screw, 19, and also act as reinforcing ribs for the legs, 21. The body of the clamping member when operatively positioned is substantially parallel to the middle portion, 2O,4

of the retaining clamp plate, 17, and has its outer ends, 24, bent inwardly parallel'to the legs, 14, of the frame and engaging the inner surfaces of the panels, 13, forholding the same in position with a wedge-like grip. These fastening devices'may be' spaced at suitable intervals along the frame members, or if preferred the retaining clamp plate and clamping member may be approximately the same length as the Vframe members for clamping the entire marginal edge of the panels to said frame members. This construction is especially adaptable for use vin show-case construction, to close the interior portion of the frame members neatly, so as to present a more finished appearance through the glass panels. Also, this construction is suitable for use in securing to-V gether the plate glass panels of store fronts, or as a complete Vframe for a plate glass window. n

At the cornersV at which three framing members meet, I provide the usual panel fastening devices and connect them together in such a manner that they also serve to at clamping members, 1S, between the stifen= ing ribs, 16, and engaging the retaining clamp plates, 17, in the frame members.V Of course, in place of using two clamping devices on each of the frame members adjacentV the corner, a single and longer set may be employed, but to simplify and standardize I prefer using twoclamping devices, as it materially reduces manufacturing costs. It will be noted that the, lines of bend, 27, are farther from the corner of the assembly than the innermost ends of the inside clamping members, so that a maximum trussing effect will be obtained. These arms, 26, may also be reinforced byproviding fillets, 29, connecting the adjacent edges of the respective arms, as shown.

In some instances it is desirable or necessary to use two or more panel sections in one panel opening of the frame and for this purpose I provide a sheet metal connecting member, 31, having its longitudinal edges folded upon itself land reversed; to form pockets for the edges of the panels as shown in Figure 2. These members may be used in either direction of the panel opening and are secured to the frame members by one of my improved fastening devices in the same manner as the panels are vclamped vto the framing members. v

The upright frame members, 10, may be extended above lor below or in both directions with respect to the top and bottom frame4 members, 11 and 12, as indicated at 10, to serve as vsupporting legs or uprights fora cover, etc. The casings usually are so be a die cast-ing, serves either as a foot for the supporting leg, or as an ornamental top, as the case maybe, and is preferably of triangular shape of' slightlygreater size than the triangular cross sectional area defined by the upright. v c

Figure 7 illustrates a corner fastening device of modified construction, in which three oppositely extending integrally connected clamping members, 35, are positioned on the lrespective framing members and connected to usual retaining clamp plates, 17, by screws, 19, for securing the panels in place. These clamping legs are joined to a common Y triangular portion, 36, defined by the lines,

37, along which said clamping members are bent. This construction also serves as the means forattaching the three oppositely extending framing members together to form a corner as clearly shown in Figure 7 of the drawing.

Figure 8 illustrates a clamping member, 40, of modified form, in vwhich the outer portions are bent toward each other to form an angle substantially the same as that formed by the panels to be secured to the frame. The extreme outer end portions, 42, are bentback so that the ends proper abut against the inside of the body portion of the clamping member, leaving an intermediate portion, 41, parallel to said panels; forming. a triangular truss member as shown in the drawing. The portion, 42, serves as a brace for reinforcing the portion, 41, with respect to the body portion of said clamping member to transmit the pressure to the enllt magno: 3

c in spaced relation and continuing in transversely extending reinforcing ribs; the adjacent marginal portions of each panel bear.- ing against the adjacent surfaces of the respective folded portions of said frame memv bers, a unitary fastening member positioned inside a corner, and retaining clamp members cooperating therewith and engaged with the respective frame members which meet at the corner for engaging ,a pair of adjacent marginal portions'of each adjacent panel for securing the same to said frame members.

2. ln a casing of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising a plurality of upright and transversely'extending sheet metal frame members meeting to form corners of the casing, a plurality of sheet panels extending in a direction transverse yto each other, each of said frame members including a body portion bent to conform to the angle formed by two adjacent panels and having its longitudinal edges folded back upon said body portion in spaced relation and continuing in transversely extending reinforcing ribs; the adjacent marginal portions of each panel bearframe member interposed between the folded ,portions and the body portions thereof, and

a reinforcing plate comprising arms extending parallel to the respective frame members forming the corner and secured t0 `said clamping plates.

3. In a casing of the character described, the combination of a frameV comprising a plurality of upright and transversely extending sheet metal frame members meeting to form corners of the casing, a plurality of sheet panels extending in a direction transverse to each Y; otherpcach o f v'saigdffframe members including abodyportionfbent'to Y edges r.folded `back upon-said .body yportion in spaced relation and continuing in transversely extending reinforcing ribs;v lthe' adjacent marginal portions of .each panel 'bea-ring against the adjacent :surfaces of the respective folded portions of saidV frame members, and means positioned inside a corner cooperating with the .respective frame members Awhich meet at the corner for engaging a pair of adjacent marginal portions of each adjacent panel forsecuring the same to said frame members, :said means comprising a clamping plate foreach frame member positioned adjacent the corner and engaging the inner surfaces ofthe marginal edges rof the yadjacent panels, a retaining clamp plate positioned'between the folded portions and body'portions .of

each -member operatively connected to and l aligned with said clamping plates, and a reinforcing plate connecting" the clampingplates together comprising three radiated arms, extendingv parallel to the frame vmembers at said corner and connected by a triangular portion with lines of bend between said arms and the triangular part positioned opposite a point intermediate the ends of said clamping plates when secured thereto. v L17. In I,a casing of the .character described, the combination of a frame comprisingia plurality :of upright and transverse sheet metal yframe members securedV together forming corners of the casing, a plurality of sheet panels extending transversely of each other, ,each of said frame members beingprovided with .a body -portion shaped to conform to theangle between the two adjacent panels and having its longitudinal edges folded back upon the body portion in spacediv relation yand continuing in ,transverse reinforcing ribs extending on ,opposite sides of and substantiallyparallel to a plane bisecting the ,angle formed by said adjacent panels, the adjacent marginal edges Vof each -panel bearingagainst the surfacesofV the folded portionsof two. frame members, and Aclamping means positioned :at each corner comprising divergent arms respectively parallel to and cooperating with the upright andthe pair lof-:oppositely extending transverse frame members, together with separate retaining clamp/members respectively positioned intermediate the -folded portions and the body portions of each frame member adjacent the corners and connected :by clamping screws to the aligned arms of the clamping vmeans 'for .gripping the marginal portions of saidpanels.

:5. Inthe combination :set forth in :claim 4, Ieach ,ofrfsaidiarms ofzithe, clamping means extending perpendicular to the plane bisecting the angle formed between the adjacent panels and the longitudinal edges thereof being bent inwardly for engaging the inner surfaces of said adjacent panels for securing the same to the frame member.

6. In the combination defined in claim 4,

said upright frame members extending beyond the transverse members, each of said extensions having a retaining clamp plate interposed between the folded portions and body portions, secured to a clamping member disposed perpendicular to the plane bisecting the angle formed by the adjacent panels of said upright, the clamping member having inclined end portions positioned for engaging the inner surfaces of said folded portions, encasing said ribs and substantially. closing said upright extension.

7 In the combination defined in claim 4, said upright frame members extending beyond the transverse members, each of said extensions having a retaining clamp plate interposed between the folded portions and body portions, secured to a clamping member disposed perpendicular to the plane bisecting the angle formedy by the adjacent panels of said upright, the clamping member having inclined end portions positioned for engaging the inner surfaces of said folded portions, encasing said ribs, and a cap member for closing the end of such eX- tension, comprisino' a plate abutting against the end of said extension, having a pair of transversely projecting lugs adapted to be positioned against the inner surface of said folded portion and secured thereat by the end portions of said clamping member for substantially closing said extension.

8. In a structure of the character described, a pair of sheet panels disposed in angular relation to each other, a frame member for said panels having oppositely eX- tending leg portions conforming to the Aangle of said panels, a clamping member comprising a body portion extending transverse to a plane bisecting the angle formed by the panels, and end portions bent inwardly, parallel to and adapted to be positioned against the panels, with bracing means interposed between said end portions and the body portion of said clamping member, and means for connecting said Vclamping member to the frame member, whereby to exert pressure through said bracing means and said end portions against said panels for rigidly securing the same to the frame` 1,789,1ozv

angular relation to each other, a sheet metal framing member having a body portion bent to conform to the angle of said panels, the longitudinal edges of said member being folded back upon the body portion in spaced relation and continuing in transversely projecting reinforcing ribs which extend the j entire length of the frame member, said ribs being spaced on opposite sides of the plane bisecting the angle formed by said panels and clamping means for securing said panels to the framing member comprising a short retaining clamp member interposed between said body portion and folded-back portions, a short clamping plate positioned opposite theA retaining clamp member and formed to engage the inner faces of said panels, and a bolt for drawing said clamping and retaining members together to grip the panels, said retaining clamp member ,longitudinali edges of said'member being folded back upon the body portion in spaced relation `and continuing in transversely projecting reinforcing ribs which extend the entire length of the frame member, said ribs being spaced on opposite sides of the plane bisecting the angle formed by said panels and clamping means for securing said panels to the framing member comprising a short retaining clamp member interposed between said body portion and folded-back portions, a short clamping plate positioned .opposite the retaining clamp member and formed to engage the inner faces of said panels, and a bolt for drawing said clamping and retaining members together to grip the panels said retaining clamp member having a central portion perpendicular to the said bisecting plane with oppositely eX- tending arms engaged between said foldedback portions and the body portion of the frame member, together with reinforcing ribs projecting from said central portion transversely at its ends and shaped to seat in the angle of the body portion.

HANS L. J ORGENSEN. 

